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Teeth Problems That May Require Root Canal Therapy that Ought to be Aware of

Depending on your medical background, experience and level of dental surgery knowledge, spotting a tooth that requires urgent endodontic therapy may not or may be an easy task. However, as much as the final determination ought to be done by a professional dentist. There are a few definite tell-tale signs that will point to a dire need for root canal therapy to save an ailing tooth. Here are some them:

An Excruciating Pain

While having a toothache doesn’t outright mean that you need an extensive endodontic therapy session, it is one of the major indications that you ought to take urgent action. The type of pain, in this case, might range from a dull ache to an intense sharp and nerve-wracking pain. It may be accompanied by a throbbing – almost palpable – component which is a clear sign of badly damaged nerve endings. Also, it may characteristically intensify or lessen as you change your physical posture ( sit, stand, bend over, look up, lie down, etc. ). In some cases, the discomfort stemming from a toothache might be so severe to prevent you from sleeping normally or going about your usual duties. At this juncture, it is advisable to book an appointment with your dentist to verify whether or not you should see an endodontist specialist.

The Location of the Pain

As usual, one of the clearest signs that you might be due for a root canal therapy session is that the being often seems to originate from one or two specific teeth. However, in some extreme cases, the pain may be so intense that a patient can only tell the general area which is ailing and not the exact origin of the discomfort. In such cases, it is also important to look into other possible cases of dental complications such as caries or periodontal disease. As part of their detailed dental analysis and diagnosis, you dentists may consider probing into other possible cause of the pain if the discomfort originates from a single tooth – just to rule out any easily treatable causes. This includes a simple tooth fracture, sinus infection, bruxism, an exposed dentin and a defective restorative apparatus.

Gum Infection, Tenderness and Swelling

These are other common signs that a root canal therapy ought to be urgently considered. Although these very visible signs of gum infection don’t necessarily point to endodontic treatment, they are a characteristic symptom of severe gum damage. The degree of the swelling enlargement, for instance, can range from being quite pronounced to slight and almost normal-looking. In extreme cases, this pain will spread to your frontal jaw, neck and upper back regions. That being said, one of the common signs that often accompany a root canal infection – as far as this goes – is localized and intense pain in the gum area near the infected tooth. This might also be accompanied with a pimple-like swelling near the severely damaged tooth.

All the above signs and symptoms are not exclusively unique to cases that require endodontic treatment. Nonetheless, they often set the precedence for an extensive diagnosis that will mostly lead to a recommendation of root canal therapy in a bid to save the infected tooth.